Unsettled Scores, the Canadian contemporary music collective, has been captivating audiences with its innovative approach to operatic and instrumental works. Best known for their boundary-pushing operatic output, the collective’s 2023 collaboration with Toronto’s Native Earth Performing Arts, The Toronto Consort, and Theatre Passe Muraille resulted in Canoe. This groundbreaking piece defied Eurocentric opera conventions with an all-Indigenous cast and unique staging aesthetics. The text was crafted by Dr. Spy Dénommé-Welch, an Algonquin-Anishnaabe writer, composer, interdisciplinary scholar, and educator. At the same time, the music was co-composed with Catherine Magowan, Unsettled Scores’ co-founder. The result? A piece that Intermission Magazine’s Zoe Marin described as a thrilling reimagining of opera’s potential.
Spy Dénommé-Welch © Lady Luck Photography
Unsettled Scores recently released Transpositions, their debut recording, available on CD, LP, and digital platforms. The album offers a multi-part instrumental composition exploring the symbiosis between chronic illness and environmental health. This conceptual dimension aligns with the themes of their operatic works, showcasing the duo’s ability to transcend genres while remaining deeply rooted in storytelling.
An Eclectic Musical Journey
Catherine Magowan © Lady Luck Photography
In a recent interview, Dr. Spy Dénommé-Welch (SDW) and Catherine Magowan (CM) shared insights into their musical upbringings and the genesis of Unsettled Scores.
SDW: “I grew up in northeastern Ontario in a remote mining town. Despite the isolation, I accessed a wide range of music before the internet or streaming services. I listened to blues, classic rock, classical, opera, folk, bluegrass, Baroque—just about anything. That eclectic exposure shaped the musician I am today.”
CM: “I didn’t have a typical musical upbringing. My stage parents couldn’t afford formal training, so I started lessons in my teens. I learned to read music after years of playing by ear. That early reliance on listening has made me a more sensitive and responsive musician.”
Spy Dénommé-Welch with Catherine Magowan: False Fugue: When All is Felled
The Birth of Unsettled Scores
The duo founded Unsettled Scores in 2006 under a different name, later rebranding to reflect the themes of their work.
CM: “Spy and I co-founded Unsettled Scores in 2006, and I’m grateful for the artistic journey we’ve shared. Our collaborations have been enriching and transformative.”
SDW: “The name ‘Unsettled Scores’ plays on words, reflecting the cyclical nature of history and its potential repetition. It ties into musical concepts of vamping and revamping, encouraging reflection on time and space.”
Unsettled Scores aims to challenge established norms in both music and storytelling, fostering artistic expression that is deeply personal yet universally resonant. This ethos has driven their work for nearly two decades, creating a dynamic platform for exploring themes of identity, history, and interconnectedness.
Spy Dénommé-Welch with Catherine Magowan: Scan/Machine
Exploring Health and Environment in Transpositions
Transpositions features eight chamber pieces for viola, bass trombone/tuba, and piano. Its conceptual framework examines the relationship between human health and the environment.
SDW: “Years ago, I started contemplating the connection between our relationship with the land and environmental health through music. The eight tracks narrate wellbeing and wholism through sonic reflection and storytelling. While listeners can engage with the tracks in any order, the narrative structure creates a cohesive journey.”
The album’s themes resonate even more profoundly following the COVID-19 pandemic, though its conception predates it.
CM: “Spy had the concept well before the pandemic, but the shutdowns shifted the project from a live performance to a studio album.”
SDW: “The theme of health and wellness ties to how we connect with the land and vice versa. It’s a conversation between these thought processes, and the pandemic’s global health crisis heightened the work’s urgency and purpose.”
The instrumentation itself adds a distinct texture to the album, with the interplay of viola, bass trombone/tuba, and piano creating a soundscape that is both haunting and reflective. This unusual ensemble mirrors the project’s thematic complexity, emphasising the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate elements.
Looking Ahead
Unsettled Scores continues to innovate and expand its repertoire.
SDW: “We recently recorded another album featuring an instrumental piece called RADAR and a mixed vocal chamber ensemble work, Contraries: A Chamber Requiem. We’re excited to share these projects in the future. To stay updated, visit www.unsettledscores.com.”
The duo is also exploring potential collaborations with other artists and organisations, building on their track record of successful partnerships. These future endeavours promise to redefine the boundaries of contemporary Canadian music further.
As Transpositions takes its place in the musical landscape, the duo reflects on their artistic journey and the impact of their work. The album can be purchased at this link: https://unsettledscores.bandcamp.com/.
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